Advocacy 101: Advocating in Real-Time

One way to advocate is to testify virtually. Even a one-minute statement helps lawmakers understand the real-world impact of proposed cuts or investments. Read more below.

In this month’s “Advocacy 101” column, we give you an inside look at the 2026 Washington state legislative session.

The legislative session opened on Jan. 12 with lawmakers entering a fast-moving 60-day period (sometimes referred to as a “short” session as opposed to a 120-day “long” session) marked by budget pressures, tax debates, and a growing list of urgent statewide needs. For older adults and people with disabilities in Seattle and King County—communities deeply affected by housing costs, caregiver shortages, and transportation barriers—this year’s decisions in Olympia will have lasting consequences.

The legislature is working to close a significant budget shortfall, driven partly by federal policy changes and slower-than-expected revenue growth. A proposal for a tax on millionaires is among several revenue options under consideration, along with agency reductions and other measures to achieve a balanced budget (required by state law). These choices will directly influence programs that older adults and people with disabilities rely on, including Medicaid long-term services and supports, senior nutrition programs, and case management services delivered through area agencies on aging. In King County, where the cost of living continues to rise, any reduction in state support could widen existing gaps in housing stability, caregiver availability, and access to in-home supports.

Although this year’s short session limits the number of bills that can realistically pass, several early proposals align with the needs of the aging and disability communities. Lawmakers are discussing measures to stabilize the long-term care workforce, expand home‑ and community-based services, and strengthen protection for vulnerable adults. Such measures include HB 2266, which encourages permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, indoor emergency housing, and indoor emergency shelters. Others, such as SB 6027, address affordable housing and related services, and SB 6162 is about property tax reform. 

King County’s older adult population continues to grow rapidly, and the region’s high housing costs, caregiver shortages, and transportation barriers make state investments especially critical. Proposed budget adjustments could affect everything from adult day health availability to the stability of Medicaid caseloads. Disability advocates are also watching for movement on bills related to accessible housing, emergency preparedness, and equitable access to digital services—areas where gaps remain significant for residents with mobility, sensory, or cognitive disabilities.

Older adults and people with disabilities remain among the most civically engaged groups in Washington, and lawmakers consistently note that stories from their constituents shape their priorities. With a short session and tight fiscal constraints, personal outreach—emails, testimony, and participation in virtual town halls—can help ensure that aging and disability services remain protected. The decisions made in Olympia over the next several weeks will have huge implications down the road.

So what can you do? Here are three simple actions you can take this week:

Contact your legislators about protecting aging and disability services

A brief email or phone call can make a meaningful difference. Share how programs such as in-home care, Medicaid case management, or senior nutrition services affect your life or the lives of people you support. Personal stories carry weight during budget negotiations. To find out more about who your legislator is, go to: https://app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder/.

Sign up to testify in person or virtually, and be on the lookout for “action alerts”

Committee hearings move quickly in a short session, but virtual testimony makes participation easier than ever. Even a one-minute statement helps lawmakers understand the real-world impact of proposed cuts or investments. Additionally, advocacy groups send out what are known as “action alerts,” which give you an up-to-the-minute opportunity to advocate on an issue. Looking up a piece of proposed legislation can be done through the “Legislative search” tool on the Washington state legislature website, where you can search for bills, state laws, and other valuable information. The main site can be found at: https://leg.wa.gov/.

Attend a virtual town hall for your legislative district

Most lawmakers host evening town halls during the session. These events are a direct opportunity to ask questions and to remind legislators that older adults and people with disabilities are paying close attention.

Even in a fast and complex legislative session, your voice truly matters. Every email, every story, every moment of engagement helps shape decisions that affect thousands of older adults and people with disabilities across our region. Advocacy doesn’t require expertise, just the willingness to speak up for what strengthens our communities. Together, we can help ensure that Seattle, King County, and our state of Washington remain a place where people of all ages and abilities can live with dignity, independence, and connection.

Joel Domingo is chair of the Advisory Council’s Advocacy Committee and dean of the Research Institute and director of Research and professor at City University of Seattle, where he leads the university’s overall scholarship and research objectives. His work focuses on leadership development and civic capacity building for creating social transformation in the public and community nonprofit spheres.